A few weeks ago we already published the signing of 16-year-old KOTLARKA PRAGUE catcher Martin Cervenka by the Cleveland Indians. On Saturday the Major League organization from Ohio announced officially that the Czech prospect joins their club. They also gave some insight into their development plans for Cervenka.
Quote from MLB.com:
Because Cervenka is still in high school, he’ll be on a bit of a different program than the typical Minor Leaguer. The Indians will let him continue to play for his club team, Kotlarka, during the ’09 season. He will then report to the Player Development Complex here for extended Spring Training during his school breaks and spend the 2009 and ’10 summers at the MLB Academy in Australia, where he’ll participate in the Australian Summer League. This will be the plan until he finishes high school at the age of 19.
Other news outlets also picked up the story and Cervenka received quite the coverage for a European player. Paul Hoynes wrote an article for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He has a quote from assistant General Manager John Mirabelli:
“Martin is a young, athletic catcher with a projectable body,” said John Mirabelli, Indians assistant general manager. “He has an excellent work ethic and aptitude. These qualities along with his physical ability are definitely an asset for him at a position where there is an industry shortage that we put a premium on.”
The Associated Press also had a relatively long article about the signing. Check it out on CBSSports.com.